BEMIDJI, Minn. - Bemidji State picked up its first win over the Wayne State Wildcats since April 18, 1999 and snapped Wayne State’s seven-game NSIC winning streak with a 12-7 win today at the BSU Baseball Field.

Scott Petrowski led a 15-hit BSU offensive attack with two home runs - his second and third of the season - to help the Beavers plate five runs in the fourth and six runs in the fifth and blow the game open.

BSU trailed 2-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth after giving up an unearned run in the first and a solo shot to Brian Radtke in the third. Gunner Geller reached on an error by Warrior shortstop Donald Whitmire to lead off the bottom of the fourth, but saw the next two BSU batters retired on fly balls to leave him standing on first base with two out. But Petrowski muscled the first of his two home runs to put BSU up 3-2 and kick-start a five-run frame. After Petrowski’s bomb, each of the next four BSU batters would reach base and three would score to stake the Beavers to a 6-2 lead.

Wayne State picked up a run in the top of the fifth to cut the deficit to 6-3. Joey Baldwin doubled to lead off the inning and was driven home on a single to left off the bat of Brian Foy.

But BSU responded by sending 10 men to the plate in the bottom of the fifth, plating six runs to pull out to a 12-3 advantage and put the game away. Gunner Geller led off the inning with a triple, and BSU would follow that with five consecutive hits - including Petrowski’s second homer of the day. BSU was a double shy of the cycle in the inning, picking up Petrowski’s three-run home run, Geller’s triple to lead off, and five singles.

Wayne State made the game interesting in the late innings, scoring Gary Redden after he led off the sixth with a double to pull within 12-4, then scoring three times in the top of the seventh to get within 12-7. But Tyler Norland, BSU’s third pitcher of the day, came on to get the final two outs and close out the win for the Beavers.

Alan Ryan started on the mound for BSU and pitched three innings. He allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits, striking out two and walking four. Ryan, who did not factor in the decision, began having control problems in the third. He walked back-to-back hitters with two out in the inning and threw a first-pitch ball to each of the last five batters he faced.

Ryan was relieved by John Marben, who pitched 3 1/3 innings to earn the win despite allowing five earned runs on nine hits. Marben struck out one and walked one, improving his record on the season to 2-0.

Aaron Hyde started on the hill for Wayne State, allowing nine of BSU’s 12 runs - although only four were earned. He allowed 10 hits, striking out four and walking two. Joseph Wall pitched the fifth and sixth for the Wildcats, allowing three runs (all earned) on five hits with four strikeouts and no walks.

Game 2
BSU’s Nate Heim got the nod to start Game 2, and retired the Wildcats 1-2-3 in the top of the first. Ben Woodford then opened the home half of the first with a bunt single to third, and scored on a two-run home run to center off the bat of Shaun Ross to put BSU ahead, 2-0. BSU then loaded the bases on a double from Nate Olson, a single from Gunner Geller and a hit batsman, but Petrowski grounded out to second to end the threat.

Brian Foy led off the bottom of the second with a blast over BSU’s monster in left field to cut the score to 2-1. Eddie Burns then flew out to center, and afterwards the game was halted for about a minute as BSU personnel applied drying compound to the mound and batters box in an attempt to thwart a rain which had been falling almost steadily since midway through Game 1. After the delay, Joe Hartman singled to right and Tim Richt uncorked a home run to right field. Immediately after Richt touched home plate, the game went into a rain delay. After a 20-minute delay, the game was suspended.

Bemidji State’s Game 1 win improved it to 10-5 on the season, 5-2 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play. BSU has won five consecutive games, all against NSIC foes. Wayne State fell to 17-15 with the loss, and saw its seven-game NSIC winning streak come to an end. The Wildcats are now 7-2 in league play.

The teams will resume the suspended Game 2 tomorrow morning at 11 a.m., and afterwards will play their regularly-scheduled double-header.

GAME NOTES
• BSU’s 12 runs scored in Game 1 tie the school record for most runs scored in a game against Wayne State. BSU previously scored 12 runs against the Wildcats in a 12-1 win in Wayne, Neb. on April 17, 1999.
• Bemidji State improves to 4-0 this year in games it hits a home run. BSU hit three home runs today.
• Scott Petrowski’s two home runs in Game 1 make him the first BSU player to hit two or more home runs in a game in the last four years (since 1999).
• Petrowki’s five RBI are a season high, and the second-most by a BSU player this year. Gunner Geller had six RBI in a 16-2 win over UM-Crookston in Game 1 of a double-header on April 10.
• Ben Woodford’s double in the fourth inning of Game 1 extended his hitting streak to 11 games, the longest streak by a BSU player this season. His streak will reach 12 games when Game 2 is completed tomorrow, as he led off the bottom of the first in that game with a bunt single.
• Isaac Smieja and Brian Beuning each extended their personal hitting streaks to five games.
• multi-hit games: Ben Woodford (2 for 4, 4th of the year), Nate Olson (2 for 4, 6th), Derek Owen (2 for 4, 4th), Isaac Smieja (2 for 3, 3rd), Scott Petrowski (2 for 4, 2nd), Neil Huewe (2 for 3, 1st).
• multi-RBI games: Brian Beuning (2, 6th - leads team), Nate Olson (2, 1st), Scott Petrowski (5, 3rd).
• BSU hit for the cycle as a team today (nine singles, 2 doubles, triple, 3 home runs), the second time this season BSU has accomplished that feat. The Beavers also hit for the team cycle in Game 1 against Crookston on April 10. BSU is 2-0 and averaging 14 runs per game this season when hitting for the cycle as a team.